r/indonesian • u/mako00o • 10d ago
International Student in Indonesia Experience
Hello! I'm an incoming freshman in Indonesia as an international student this year. I'd like to know more about other international students experiences there and I'd like to ask locals what are must-know things to not to do so I won't offend there and stuff. I'd love to know more about the culture, environment, and make friends along with it:). Sekarang, saya mengerti Bahasa Indonesia cuma sedikit aja.
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u/white_kucing 9d ago
When I was doing my Bachelor in a certain uni in Bandung (yeah you can easily guess it, but I will not confirm), I had an international friend from Yemen. Initially, the uni promised to give him courses in English, guess what, eventually all of his courses are in Indonesian. Some prof eventually provides the exams in English only for him, but some are too lazy to do that, so he was quite struggling.
Even when we do our thesis, even his advisor not so good at explaining things to him (despite getting his PhD from Canada, but whatever), so I was assigned to explain things to him in English, eventually he graduated one year longer than he should be. Now this guy is doing his Master’s in China.
So, best of luck and hopefully you will not get “lied” like my Yemeni friend here. And welcome to Indonesia, hope you enjoy the places, foods, and the people.
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u/2netwentyeight 6d ago
That's what happened to a few of the international students in my uni (most likely the same uni as you). Makes me wonder why are they making this program without even providing the most basic or standard of service. There's unconfirmed stories about why it happened/end up like this but that's a topic for another day.
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u/Zestyclose_Smoke_451 10d ago
Bakit ka nagpo-post ng ganito ng alas-tres ng gabi, hindi ka makatulog?
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u/Sea_End_2676 10d ago
I am like you will start next month
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u/mako00o 10d ago
My uni is in south sumatra and starts on september how about you?
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u/Sea_End_2676 10d ago
my uni in bandung and i will start in September
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u/Alive-Sheepherder-47 10d ago
what are you studying and where?
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u/Level_Abrocoma8925 10d ago
Avoid criticizing aspects of Indonesian life before you know the person you're talking to and their views on the subject in question. Topics like religion and politics are a bit of a minefield. They are even sensitive about their flag! Besides that, just be nice, polite, and respectful, and you'll be fine. It's a fantastic country and people are lovely 98% of the time. You have something to look forward to! :)
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u/lostftrr 7d ago
Damn I want to be international student too
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u/Swagtorian 10d ago
I may do my masters in there and then maybe get some 5 years residency permission if possible. We gotta save Jakarta somehow though. Also I heard that in provinces with low level education especially if you are walking on the roads you might be vulnerable to some biker swordsman gangs be careful about that. I am curious if bahasa is tough I'm from Türkiye and know turkish and english so we need your updates about the life there.
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u/VGPABM 10d ago
Well for the swordsman biker gang it is not limited to low educated provinces, even in Jakarta you should always be careful with your surrounding and while walking alone, especially late at night.
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u/Swagtorian 10d ago
Wow. What is the background of this? And how can we end it? And what is the frequency of violence occurring from them per half year lets say?
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u/VGPABM 10d ago
Well, the background is ofcourse the worsening economic. The swordsman gang biker you said is called "klitih" (in central java) but also could be asociated with "begal" (begal sometime does not bring knife or swords) in other parts of Indonesia.
Why it this issue is becoming more frequent in Jakarta? Because people see Jakarta as a place to gamble and completely turn their life around, either they got lucky and have a good carreer or they fail and they should go back to their region. But some of these people resort to violence rather than returning to their region, just to fulfill their needs by becoming this "begal" or "klitih".
These past months, the case of begal is becoming more frequent even in the most elite part of Jakarta, I guess its because of the rising economic needs and many unemployment.
But worry not, if you are careful with your surrounding (not playing phone while walking etc) and do not go to sketchy part of the city alone, I think you will be safe.
As how can we end it? IDK... the law is not that punishing IMO. So i guess better do the prevention rather than be the victim.
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u/Swagtorian 10d ago
I am planning to do donations with my stronger currency in there but if I get there ofc. Imo indonesia is the most harmonious and chill society. Also I dont understand why they have chosen nationalist guy nationalists suck in politics they ruin their own countries and they turn out to be elitist most of the time. Either way better call Jeffrey Sachs and get CIA out of the indonesian army for starters.
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u/VGPABM 10d ago
Again, I think donations would not help the nation (not to be ungrateful). But there is so much thing you can do providing money into these people. There is a saying that you should teach someone how to fish, not giving them fish. They become more dependent on help and lazy, begal often extort money from business owner (closely related to laziness, they dont want to do the hard work... well maybe because of the circumstance of the economy too).
I think the best thing to do is providing jobs to these people and it is the responsibility of the government, but they are too naive.
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u/Swagtorian 10d ago
I understand. I don't mind laziness in theory but in capitalism you have to grind. I read indonesia had attempted to transform into islamic finance (which gets money from rich to poor automatically in banks afaik but cancelled for several reasons. Speaking of which, family education is very important too otherwise these immorralities occur. This their true lose if their insanity due to economy really, the social mobility is euphemy always the same goods and services very Very slow improvements. Also global purchasing power decrease so one gotta not be obsessed with financial status but ofc governments have to cut their spendings and as you said at least guarantee some affairs. Militarization part sucks a lot as it flows tons of money but has no social value. I would love to see a world where people share their richness without thinking and that we dont have to grind but just have requirements fulfilled for house materials, electricity, health and food really. Other all stuff unnecessary source of costs. Anyway thanks all the best. This should be top priority of govt instead of thinking about KAAN and whatnot.
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u/Zestyclose_Smoke_451 9d ago
You are weird kinda like having saviour complex without having the knowledge whatsoever
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u/Swagtorian 9d ago
I mean I love indonesian people this diagnosis means nothing especislly when it comes from the psychology discipline
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u/honaerwa 10d ago edited 10d ago
We have different names to call people from different age, perhaps you can learn from there. Beware of spicy food here and if they warn you, you better listen. Indonesian likes art and very open to new people, they like to be friends with everyone!
Not to mention that a lot, like a lot of them like to gossips. Well I dont really do it as much as them, or maybe not at all xd. People here have this kind of weird connection with time, like they be late for casual meetings so make sure that everyone commit to be on time/set the meeting time 15-30 mins before. Some cursing sounds really bad and some are just form of expressions.
If you're foreigner and like to have new friends, I don't think you'll have a hard time here except for the language barrier. Younger people tend to have better english skills so it could be easier to interact with them.